The Hindu : Karnataka News : Candidate seeks bail to contest polls

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Friday, Apr 25, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Candidate seeks bail to contest polls

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: “I have an excellent chance of being elected to the State Assembly and I would like to personally meet the voters and canvass for their support. Since I am in jail, kindly release me on bail for a month so that I can go on the campaign trail. After a month, I will undertake to surrender to the court”.

This is what an Independent who is contesting from Kolar district told the Karnataka High Court on Thursday.

The candidate, D.L. Nagaraj, said he is an agriculturist by profession and the president of the Kolar District Krishika Samaja. He said he is judicial custody for several months and urged the court to release him on bail.

Mr. Nagaraj said the Kolar rural police had booked him after a group clash took place in Vadagur village in Kolar district. He said he hails from the village and that he had so far a distinguished public life.

He said he had held several responsible positions such as general secretary of the All India Krishik Samaja, president and director of Karnataka Pradeshika Krishika Samaja.He said the Kolar District Court, while denying him bail had permitted his name to be proposed as one of the candidates. He urged the court to release him on bail for a month so that he could canvas for votes. He promised to surrender before the authorities after a month.

The State opposed the bail plea, saying that Mr. Nagaraj had filed his nomination only because he wanted to come out on bail. It said there is a threat to his life. The State said it would like time to file objections to the bail plea. Justice Ravi B. Naik adjourned further hearing.

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